HOUSE BILL NO. 6508

December 09, 2020, Introduced by Rep. Rabhi and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

"Revised judicature act of 1961,"

(MCL 600.101 to 600.9947) by adding section 152a.

the people of the state of michigan enact:

Sec. 152a. (1) The Michigan judicial institute shall provide training for judges serving as judges of the probate court and family division of the circuit court in this state regarding domestic violence and criminal sexual conduct. The Michigan judicial institute shall make available to the public a list of each judge of the probate court or family division of the circuit court that completes the training under this section.

(2) The training required under this section must be offered not less than once every 2 years and must include information on all of the following subjects:

(a) The nature, extent, and causes of domestic violence, stalking, and criminal sexual conduct.

(b) Procedures designed to promote the safety of the victim and other household members.

(c) Information about the neurobehavioral effects of trauma and signs of abuse, especially as these relate to an individual's presentation and manner in court.

(d) Information about the prevalence and human economic impact of domestic violence on society.

(e) Statistical information on domestic violence as it relates to child custody, including its lethality, outcomes of contested custody cases in which a spouse alleges abuse, and child deaths or removals from the home following contested custody cases.

(3) As used in this section:

(a) "Criminal sexual conduct" means conduct prohibited under section 520b, 520c, 520d, 520e, or 520g of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.520b, 750.520c, 750.520d, 750.520e, and 750.520g.

(b) "Domestic violence" means that term as defined in section 1 of 1978 PA 389, MCL 400.1501.

(c) "Stalking" means conduct prohibited under section 411h or 411i of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.411h and 750.411i.